Vacuum-cleaner.



H. L. BOYLE.

VACUUM CLEANER. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26, 1915.

1,,735, Patented 1100.19,]916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H L. BOYLE.

VACUUM CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.26, 1915.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

HOMER L. BOYLE, OI LANSING, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF'ONE-HALF TO SAMUEL E,

DAVIS, 01 LANSING, MICHIGAN.

vacuum-CLEANER.

Application filed November 26, 1915. Serial No. 63,540.

; of which t e following is a specification.

the like, and

This invention relates to vacuum cleaners for removin by suction particles of dust and other su stances from carpets, rugs and the object of this invention is the construction of specially fashioned and arranged parts forming a cleaner that is light in weight, cheap to manufacture and easy to operate.

It is likewise an-object of this invention to produce a cleaner of the nature set forth in which the dust-collecting receptacle is in immediate connection with the nozzle, and the air-suction devices are located in the rear of the casing. By reason of such special arrangement, the dust and foreign 'par ticles are strained from the air before it reaches the suction devices become clogged with dirt.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a casing having in its front portion an air-tight compartment within which is located a dust strainer and collector having particular construction. The dust receptacle is removable, and means are further introduced including spring members whereby the dust receptacle is held yieldingly within the air-tight compartment, and,-at the same time the front 0 the receptacle is pressed into contact with the opening in the nozzle, in order that the matter sucked up by the nozzle may pass directly into the receptacle or strainer.

The special construction and arrangement of the parts comprising this inventlon are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which-- Figure 1 represents a vertical, longitudinal section of section shown in Fig. "1' is taken upon the indirect broken line H of Fig. 2, which re is a top plan view of this invention with the forward and hinged portion of the top of the casing removed to disclose parts beneath. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a modification of the dust receptacle, and Fig. 4 is a cross section of such the broken line 3 -11 of modification upon Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is Specification of Letters Patent.

which act only upon relatively clean air and do not readily nozzle, and the bottom -H all the parts assembled. The- Patented Dec. 19, 1916..

a top planview of a modified form of this lnvention with a portion of the forward part of the top of the casing broken away to exhibit the dust receptacle which is also of modified form and consists of a drawer which may be drawn out from the side of the casin In all the views and throughout the description the same letter is used to designate the same part.

Considering Figs. 1 and 2, the casing A is providedwith a pivoted bail B and operating handle 6 of usual form.

At the front of the casing is arranged the nozzle C, and it is advantageous though not essential to provide the little knob or li a on the front of the nozzle, upon whicli the finger may be pressed to hold the casin down when it is desired to raise the forwar and hinged portion D of the top against any possible remaining partial vacuum below the top, or if it should stick. The hinges upon the top are marked d.

Interiorly the casing is divided into two compartments, and the front compartment is closed at the bottom by the board 6. The hinged top D covers the front com artment, and it is customary to provide tiie top D with a sheet of compressible packing F on its under side. The nozzle as shown opens into or toward the front compartment, and the opening is framed by a sheet of packing having an opening coinciding with the opening in the nozzle. The transverse partition which divides the casing into compartments is referred to by the letter E.

Within the air-tight front compartment is located the dust receiving and straining receptacle G. It has a front opening 9 arrangedto register with the opening of the of the receptacle consists of gauze or ot er material suitable for the purpose (if filtering the dust from the air. bottomHinclines rearwardly and upwardl thus leaving a space below the bottom 1%? and above the board e for the air to pass towardthe rear compartment of the casin The receptacle has the side wall opening 2%, coveredjby' the air-straining material J, and the receptacle. has also the rear opening K covered by the straining material 9'. The partition E has an opening k through which air may be drawn into the bellows L, of which there may be any number. By means It will be noted in Fig. 1 that the ion the suspended and of the connection Z, the bellows is operated by the driving wheel M in the ordinary manner, and it is advantageous to support the back board of the bellows by means of pivotally supported links m. The links prevent the movable ends of the bellows from dropping down upon the carpet during the operation.

In Figs. 1 and 2 there will be observed the rollers n attached to the inside of the front of the receptacle, and the spring members N attached to the hinged top (2, are so arranged as to engage and press upon the rollers. That engagement takes place when the top is closed down to cover the front compartment, and the effect isto hold the receptacle G yieldingly in place within the compartment, and at the same time to press the front of the receptacle firmly against the packing g in order that there will be no leak, and the full eifort of the suction will be exerted through the opening 9 and through the nozzle G. Thus the nozzle and the dust receptacle are in operation immediately connected together. In Fig. 1 it will be noted that the opening is inthe transverse partition E is located near the bottom board 6 of the air-tight compartment, while the opening 9 through which the in-coming air and dust enter the receptacle G is at a higher level. The dust-laden air is, therefore, sucked inwardly and downwardly and all of the air taken in passes through the strainer bottom and side openings of the receptacle.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate a modified form of the dust receptacle. The modified receptacle O has the upwardly and rearwardly inclined bottom P composed of straining material as already explained. The receptacle 0 also has the front opening 1? through which the dust-laden air enters, and the rear and side openings Q and R. Near the front the modified receptacle has the cross-bar S, and a portion of the top of the receptacle is covered with the strainer material 8, that extends also over the rear opening Q. The side opening R is covered with like strainer material 1'. The front of the modified receptacle is provided with the rollers q for engagement with the spring fingers N carried by the hinged portion of the top and already described.

The modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 5 comprises the casing T that has the front end closed by the nozzle 25 in the same manner as before, and the casing is divided by the partition U. The opening of the nozzle toward the compartment formed is framed by the sheet of packing u. The dust receptacle V has substantially the same general construction as that described for the receptacle G, but, it is constructed in the form of a drawer havin the front board W and knob w by whic it may be drawn out from the side of the casing. It is advantageous to cover the inside of the board WV, or at least the edge portions thereof with suitable packing Z in order that a tight joint may be made with the side of the casing. In order that the drawer V may be held yieldingly in the front compartment of the casing T, and to keep the front of the receptacle always firmly pressed against the packing that frames the nozzle, the vertical lugs 1 are provided on the back of the receptacle. The lugs have inclined sides, and when the drawer receptacle V is withdrawn or replaced in the compartment, the spring fingers 2 ride over the lugs and engage the inclined sides of the lugs, at the same time the springs press the receptacle against the packing it.

In the operation of this invention, whether of the preferred form or of the modified form, the air and dirt enters the dust receptacle directly and the dust is deposited therein, while the relatively clean air passes off by way of the bellows located in the rear part of the casing. If the dust to be collected is of a very light character, the modified form 0 of the receptacle which has the strainer material extended over a portion of the top is useful to bafiie and bring to rest eddies or whirls within the receptacle. In either form of the invention the dust receptacle or collector is easily and conveniently removed and replaced, without raising the whole apparatus from the ground.

Having now described this invention and explained the mode of its operation, what I claim is:

1. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination with a casing having an air-tight compartment, of air suction devices in communication with the said air-tight compartment, means for operating the said air-suction devices, a nozzle having an opening, the said air-tight compartment having an opening registering with the opening of the nozzle, a removable dust receptacle having an opening registering with the said opening in the said compartment, the said receptacle having a portion provided with air-filtering material within the said air tight compartment, the said air-tight compartment having an opening for the removal of the said dust receptacle, ing when the said receptacle is in the said compartment, and devices arranged to exert force upon the said receptacle and the said closing means at the same time whereby said opening of opening of said compartment registering with the opening of the nozzle and the said compartment closing means are held closed.

2. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination with a casing having an air-tight compart- 1 means for closing the said open- 1i said receptacle is held to the 1 weaves ment, of air-suction devices in communication with the said air-tight compartment, means for operating the said air-suction devices, a nozzle having an opening, the said air-tight compartment having an opening registering with the said opening of the nozzle, a rigid removable dust receptacle having an opening registering with the said opening in the said compartment, the said receptacle having a portion provided with air-filtering material within the said airtight compartment, the said compartment having an opening for the removal of the said receptacle, means for closing the said opening when the said receptacle is in the said compartment, and spring devices arranged to exert force upon the said receptacle and the said closing means at the same time whereby the said rigid receptacle is pressed bodily toward the nozzle and the opening of said receptacle is held to the opening of the compartment registering with the said opening of the nozzle and the said closing means are held closed.

3. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination with a casing having an air-tight compartment, a movable top, covering the compartment, air-suction devices in communication with the said compartment, means for operating the air-suction devices, a nozzle opening into the said compartment, aremovable dust receptacle having a front wall provided with an opening registering with the said opening to the nozzle, the said receptacle having its top open near the said front wall, and means including springs attached to said movable top of said compartment and devices carried on the inside of said front wall of the receptacle and constructed to engage the said springs whereby the front of the receptacle is held against the front of said compartment and the said top is at the same time held closed.

4. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination with a casing, of a driving wheel in the rear of the casing, an air-tight compartment formed in the front of the casing, the said casing having a hinged top portion removably covering the said compartment, airsuction means arranged in the rear of the casing and in communication with the said compartment, the said air-suction means being connected with and operated by the said driving wheel, a nozzle arranged at the front of the casing and opening into the said compartment, a removable dust receptacle located in the said compartment and having a front opening arranged to register with the said opening in the nozzle, and means including spring members attached to the said hinged top of the casing and arranged to act against the front of the said receptacle to hold the said receptacie yieldingly in the said compartment and at the same time to hold the said front opening of the receptacle in conjunction with said opening of the nozzle.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature,

HOMER L. BOYLE. 

